The Chair of the Procedural Issues and Rules Committee, Giorgi Kakhiani spoke about the novelties in the new Rules of Procedure and underlined the procedure – the Speaker’s report initiated by the Speaker. “The Speaker, in the process of development of the new Rules of Procedure, raised the initiative and for the first time in the history of Parliament, we established the reporting by the Speaker on annual basis”.

It followed the Constitutional changes, which enhanced the basics of the Parliamentary Republic and this tendency has been reflected in the RoP.

According to him, yet another novelty in the RoP is the Ministerial Hour: “This week we will hear the Minister of Education speaking about the reforms, we will also hear the Regional Development Minister next week – this is the new procedure when the Parliament summons the Ministers to hear about performance of their agencies”.

He responded to the statements by the Minority about non-consideration of their positions in development of RoP. “I can state that the process prior to adoption was long and open allowing all parties concerned to participate. NGOs, as well as international organizations and naturally the Minority members were engaged in the process, so their statement as if their position has not been considered, does not mean that the process was not open”.

He reminded his colleagues that the novelties aim at increase of the role of the opposition, first of all set-up of the Fact Finding Commission in simplified manner with the key role played by the opposition. “Besides, the debate appointment is also simplified when in preceding practice debates used to be appointed by the Majority at the plenary session. Now, it requires at least 1/5 and this is the leverage held by the opposition. Let me also remind you the interpellation mechanism when the opposition is entitled to address to the Minister and ask the questions at the plenary session”.

Under the new RoP, the Prime Minister is to report to the Parliament and the opposition has the opportunity to ask the questions. “And even today, the number of the questions has been asked to the Speaker by the opposition, which is the new opportunity”.

He expressed his will for proper realization of the RoP novelties.